Harry Belafonte - Man Piaba Lyrics

I used to listen to this (the original version, on the "Mark Twain" album my folks had) as a kid, and sing it myself, and it was certainly one of my favorite songs, long before I had any understanding of what it was about. Apparently I'm not the only one. Well, yesterday my father turned 93. He gave my mother a big, long kiss. I think he still gives a damn.

From “Belafonte at Carnegie Hall “ , 1959.
The song and the album are both classics.
Taught the song to generations of kids.
G-d bless you Harry for all the joy you have brought to me and millions of other people.

Available on the 2LP version of Belafonte at Carnegie Hall.

Ceres Dumary :Respectfully , you’re the fool.Belafonte is a giant of the twentieth century., in arts and entertainment, civil rights , human rights.What have you accomplished sir in your lifetime ? What have you stood up for ? Stuck your neck out for ? Risked your life for ?

that's unfair to ask but Belafonte is a giant

This man was magnificent ‼️I taught this song to generations of kids.Happy ninety - first birthday , Harry ,on Wednesday, March 1st/18.G-d bless you.

Wonderful!

excellent

It's very unfortunately that a decent singer and famous personality such as Belafonte could be such an idiot of a political opiner. What a certified idiot when he opens his mouth on social and political issues!! As a Jamaican, I am thoroughly embarrassed whenever he tries to make any public statement on politics or social issues.
Because of him, the following wise advice was penned: "It is better to keep one's mouth shut and be THOUGHT a fool than to open up and remove all doubt!"

But he don't give a damn you see,
Cause the woman Piaba
and the man Piaba
And the tan tan call buck lemmon grass
the lillyroot collyroot uh
And the firma scrandy scrarch scratch

Thanks for translating, now I understand :-)

@Ceres Dumary: You won the Most Stupid Comment Award.

hahah you're a hateful person probably more jealous for being a nobody.

This is the best thing.

hilarious and still trye

Favorite song of all time, to this day.

i look for opportunities regularly to sing this song

Jasjit Kohli "Hey kid, you want to where babies come from?"

Great song....a true classic....

The song actually says: "Man piaba, woman piaba, tan-tan, fall back and lemon grass,,,Minnie root, Gully root, Granny Backbone....etc.

The refrain and the name of the song is a minimally altered version of the late  Guyanese Shanto exponent Bill Rogers (Augustus Hinds) "The Weed Song".

Thank you Carament for hipping me to Augustus Hinds' the Weed Song.

Thank you, Carament. I have always wondered if Bill Rogers received any financial reward for this. I am Guyanese, by the
way

Perfection! My summer camp director, back in the day (mid-sixties), who had a beautiful voice, sang parts of this song for us kids. I never knew anything about the origins of the song until it came back to me today and I decided to key in the refrain and lo and behold came to discover that Belafonte was responsible. A nice gift both from the camp director so long ago, and you for posting. Thanks!

Love it

Fan big fan

yes, I've had it for years.

Respect. Mad Respect!

This song that he sung in Carnegie Hall had the added the distinction of a very funny dialogue with his dad. Wonder if anyone has heard it.

funny..had Belafonte at Carganie hall album as a young man..my first tbh

@azeeuwnl1961 You can get the CD at cd universe for $6.35 and is well worth the price.

Can someone tell me how to interpret the chorus line of this song. I mean i get a few, but some appear as clear as mud to me.
Years ago i found this song on 7inch in my recordshack - don't know exactly how it got there - mayby from aunts or gradparents... so I started to play it in my DJ-Sets - which are of course HipHop- and Elektro-dominated haha. The crowds reaction was always the same - first they stammered and they stuttered pathetically but as their brains go round they began to like it.

* * * * *

One of the best things about my childhood was discovering the great Harry Belafonte. I discovered Harry many years before I learned about man and woman piaba.To this day,I treasure them both.

Harry at his best. My dad still has the "Life at Carnegie Hall" record. Priceless..
Did this recording ever come out on CD?

:D lmao

a refreshing song by harry belafonte.. :-)

"it was clear as mud,but it covered the ground..."

Nice post, Kash. I do one of his songs- well he made it known- Matilda. When u mention calyspo tho give props to Trinidad & Tobago where it originated. Jamaica gave us reggae, but sometimes they want calypso & steel drum 2 but tha't's really from Trinidad.

Hearing this brings back many laughter-fillded memories. Hope to add it to my repertoire soon. Thanks for posting this!:)

JamaicaBobTV v. Van

Harry Belafonte gave many great Humorous songs, including this one, but will always be remembered best for "Mary's Boy Child". Love it Thanks Kashif